LAST weekend Newcastle SUP Club held the annual Scotts Head Paddle Games.

Little Beach dawned on Friday morning, mild and sunny with a low swell.

Dyan Thais, Club Secretary said, “The location is beautiful, there’s never any trouble getting contestants to Scotts Head, and we are opening with a perfect winter’s day.”

The beach was dotted with tents, stand up paddle boards galore, and a sea of colourful flags.

Scotts Head P & C were cooking up a storm with egg and bacon rolls and sausage sandwiches.

News Of The Day caught up with Dyan who said last year was due to be the 10th Anniversary of the games, but had to be cancelled because of Covid.

The games had been locally organised for nine years, but when the event became too big, the Newcastle SUP Club inherited the games.

“Our Club has always supported the Scotts Head Paddle Games for the last ten years, and inherited organising the games since 2019,” said Dyan.

Registration for the games is run over a six-week time frame, and this year most heats were filled within the first registration week.

There were approximately 115 registered to compete in the event, coming from all over NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.

Dyan said, “Michaela Quillam, 72 years old, has been competing for the last five years.

“She drives all the way from Victor Harbour, South Australia in her van free camping along the way just to compete.

“This year Michaela’s trip took her five days as she had to drive through NSW to avoid Victoria’s Covid problems.”

The games feature both stand up paddle surf and race events, with competitors taking to stand up paddle boards of all sizes throughout the weekend.

The paddle surf events are judged on distance surfed and technique, with categories for men, women, and youth, with 20-minute heats running Friday and Saturday, featuring stand up paddle beginners to expert surfers.

The finals, held on Saturday in improved SUP surfing conditions after a small-swell Friday, saw a number of paddlers crowned as category winners.

Taylah Montgomery took out the Girls 16 Years and Under, while Fletcher Hole took out the Boys 16 Years and Under.

Lisa Cross was the winner in the Women’s 50 Years and Over (Under 10 ft board), while Madeline Rayner won the Women’s 50 Years and Over (Over 10 ft board) category.

The Men’s 60-69 Years (Under 10ft board) was won by John Gough, and the Men’s 60-69 Years (Over 10ft board) was taken out by Ray Gleave.

Womens 40-49 Years (Under 10ft board) was won by Linda Gleave and Womens 40-49 Years (Over 10ft board) was won by Tammy Montgomery.

The Men’s 50-59 Years (Under 10ft board) was taken out by Andrew Cassidy, and the Men’s 50-59 Years (Over 10ft board) winner was Rob Gittoes.

Men’s 40-49 Years (Under 10ft board) went to Evan Green, and the Men’s 40-49 Years (Over 10ft board) went to Steve Morley.

The Open Women’s (Under 10ft board) saw a win for Skyla Rayner, while Ke’ale Dorries took out the Open Women’s (Over 10ft board).

James Casey secured the win in the Open Men’s (Under 10ft board), while Ray Gleave got himself another win in the Open Men’s (Over 10ft board).

The 70 Years and Over (Any Board) went to Keith Drinkwater, while the Sup Foil event was taken out by James Casey.

On Sunday, 40 paddlers competed in a mass-start Distance Race, with competitions across 3km and 9km courses.

Nicki Day was the fastest woman to complete the 3km course, finishing with a time of 30:15.2.

Shane Lynch was the fastest male across the finish line, with a time of 19:08.5.

In the longer 9km course, Kaelan Lockhart was the fastest with a time of 47:47.1.

Ange Jackson crosses as the fastest female with a time of 1:01:03.2.

SUP Foil and Wing Sling were new Divisions added to the competition this year.

 

By Karen GRIBBIN